Just wanted to share

[adgal]

WARNING; Insensitive people at the Walmart rant ahead.
Last night I found myself sandwiched in line waiting to check out, this is not an odd occurrence. The woman in frount of me had 5 children she was wrangling ( which did not seem odd to me) , as well as the fact that the children were a mix of Caucasian and Hispanic short people.( agian hmph...didn't notice until it was pointed out to me).
Yes, I said pointed out.
The people behind me as I wrestled my own whiney toddler, began very loudly whispering things like;
"How many baby daddies do you think she has?"
"Can't even dress those kids for weather."
"Just wait until she whips out the food stamps. "
I calmed my 3 year old with old altoids found at the bottom of my purse and looked incredulously back at the well dressed, normal couple spouting such, well, total CRAP.

I looked forward to see a woman fumbling with seperating clothes items; coats and shoes socks and underwhere from the food items with the black plastic seperators.

There five kids,two that shared her same blonde hair with jackets and warm shoes and three, beautifully dark haired and deep brown eyes, sad, eyes;wearing shorts, and flip flops.
It was true she was struggling with a food stamp card. Didn't know what buttons to use to complete the transaction.

As the class act behind me deeply sighed; and said "Theres our tax dollars neatly at work."

I shot them what I can only imagine was the death glare only a mother of 9 can execute to perfection.

I stepped forward and kindly said, can I help?
These things are so confusing.
She looked at me.
I quietly asked " Foster or Adopted?"
I have 9 kiddos...two bio, I get it, please let me help."

She smiled embarrassed, "New Foster Mom, this is my first time using one of these, they came 3 days days ago, gonna be with us for a while.
They gave us food, but the kids needed clothes , but no stipend has come through yet.

I looked at the kids and smiled, and turned to her and said; beautiful children I am glad you all have eachother. "

I showed her how to use her card as the jackholes behind us snorted.
I explained to her how she doesn't have to seperate items and that the items get seperated by the computer at check out and how she pays the balance after she runs her card.

She handed each child a new coat , loaded up her cart as she left I side hugged her and told her "you have got this."

After they were out of ear shot...I turned with tears to the smug well dressed man and woman behind me.

"Those children? They lost the right to live with their parents just days ago, those clothes? probably the only clothes they own, or got to leave their home with.
THAT woman? Opened her home to kids, kids that needed a safe place to go, when the one they lived in no longer prooved safe enough or secure enough for them. The food stamps, something health and welfare helps an already mother to two feed three new mouths.
There are not nearly enough women or people like her this world."

I whipped back around and started slamming my groceries on the belt, and then turned back around...
Voice shaking.;
"AND even IF those kids were all hers, and she had a dozen "baby daddies" and was on food stamps..no child in this country or any other deserves to be cold or hungry, I am sorry, but your behavior? Poorly done, VERY poorly done."

My new 'friends' left my checkout aisle and joined another, silently.

I grabbed a bag of damn Peanutbutter m&ms....
As I finished checking out the girl checking me out smiled and winked, "single mother on WIC, what you said? Rocked!"

I grimaced and said "thanks,I wasn't sure I should have gone off like that...hug those babies of yours tight tonight. "

She said " I will, you have a nice night mam' and do the same."

I cried hard as I found my Tahoe, buckled the baby in the car, loaded up...and opened those damn m&m's.

You foster mama's out there...hold your heads high, you are the hands and hearts that are the strong and the steady for small ones when they need it most.
Hats off andso much love today to you.♡♥♡

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/dec/19/opinion/la-ed-foster-20111216

I came across this posted on a dear friends fb page.  I wanted to share as there is so much posted here about those abusing the system, etc.  I think that this is just a reminder that we should never judge as it's likely we don't know the whole story.  Just something to think about.

[brice1967]

You never truly know who or what you are dealing with.

[MrsPincince]

You are a class act!

[Barb135]

"Anyway, I know I go off about things like this and I apologize."  Don't ever apologize for having a kind heart; that's one of the things that make you so special.  

I agree with Mike "People can be so very disappointing and then suddenly out of a crowd a beautiful soul emerges."

It's those beautiful souls that give people hope and faith in mankind.  

[mikesimon]

I share all of your sentiments.
People can be so very disappointing and then suddenly out of a crowd a beautiful soul emerges.

Thanks for the post.

Mike

[adgal]

This story made me bawl my eyes out - and I wish it had been me, I would have been far harder on them in all honesty.  People can be so cruel and disgusting can't they.  It also reminded me that we never really know someones story.  I get upset about the instant assumptions that are made around those needing assistance.  And it upsets me that so many prefer to criticize and judge (without ever actually knowing what got someone to that place) rather then step up and say "how can I help".  As we move closer to the Christmas season I always start to think about how many in need are out there, and how many children won't have Santa Clause come to their house.  I always think of a pair of sad little eyes (of a child I know personally) saying "Santa didn't come to my house this year, I must have been very bad".  Heartbreaking.  THere are so many ways we can all help - in the moment like the lovely women in the story (it is a true story btw, this really happened), or by helping with money or time.  Time is just as valuable. Becoming a big sister or brother, or a mentor, or just volunteering in whatever way we can.

Anyway, I know I go off about things like this and I apologize.  I just find it heartbreaking that there are in fact people who behave like this couple in Walmart.  We never truly know what happened in someones life, or why they need and are accepting help.  Each story is so unique and I hate the sterotyping that goes on.

[Barb135]

Beautiful story Amanda.... I hadn't to looked to the bottom of thread, so as I was reading the article, I thought this was something you had been through... I've never met you, but I can see you stepping forward in a case like that.  :-)

We need reminders that not everyone who "seems" to be is really abusing the system. We never know the story just by looking at the outside of the book.

[teko]

I think this is the single most article I have read in a long time where I cried out of sadness of what is happening in our country and the division and judgement and felt so honored and proud that there are still those that have a voice against it and still stand up and use that voice in a constructive way. Im saving this and sharing. Maybe I will print it out and post it in our local grocery! It definitely needs shared.